pond hockey!

today i went out to play pond hockey for the first time this season. hooray! this is why i love winter. i got in about an hour of exercise and it felt like playing. i love the feel of moving on the ice in skates. i love that you don’t have to wear tons of clothing because just moving around warms you up. i love that my friends are generous enough to shoot the puck to me occasionally in the hopes that it might connect with my stick and that i might then have some idea of what to do with it. i love that i now have knee pads so that falling is almost fun and definitely less painful (assuming that i fall on my knees and not some other, less well padded parts). i love how frost forms on my eyelashes and the brim of my knitted cap. i love the feel of support when i put my skates on and snug up the laces. i love being that much taller when i’m on my skates. it took me awhile to convince myself to go out today–it had been awhile since i’d had the chance to remind myself of how much i enjoyed this activity and… it was 10 degrees… and i had presents to wrap… but i’m so glad i went.